• Name: Goldsmith, Lewis
• Gender: Male
• Death Date: 6  January  1846
• Occupation: journalist
• Occupation: political writer

All 'L Goldsmith's' have been coded. These all coincide with periods during which Lewis Goldsmith was in England. Other plain 'Goldsmith' entries have been checked to ascertain circles and dates.The DNB gives an excellent account of the comings and goings of Goldsmith, and his fluctuating allegiances, as an advocate for the French Republic, accusing the allies of atrocities against the French, spying for France, then Britain, then France, fleeing France to be arrested in England, and so on. He is one of the most colourful characters in Godwin's diary.

It is possible that the Mrs Goldsmith is Lewis's wife, but almost nothing is known of his marriage. He certainly has one daughter, Georgiana, who married Lord Lyndhurst in 1837. Goldsmith was, among his many activities, a theatre critic and Godwin sees him on several occasions at the theatre. Godwin first notes meeting L Goldsmith at S Elwes in April 1801 - a venue at which he mets Mrs Goldsmith and S Goldsmith in the preceding months of 1801. It is possible that S Goldsmith is in fact Mrs Goldsmith. Each appears only once in the diary. There is also one appearance of Miss Goldsmith in 1821, which does seem to be L Goldsmith's daughter, being connected to J Taylor, as are many of the contacts with L Goldsmith.

The two entries in 1799 could be to L Goldsmith, but there is nothing to indicate this and they are left uncoded. The Goldsmith in 1801 does seem plausibly linked to L Goldsmith (note the presence of Egerton and S Elwes). There are two Goldsmith's entered in 1802, both with Mcadam, which seems to revolve around a deal that Godwin has made - the second entry is a 'sign with' G and M. It seems unlikely to be a publishing deal since Goldsmith is not registered with the book trade until 1817, and there is no registration for Mcadam. It is possible it relates to premises but we have no basis for confirming this. And given the uncertainties it seems best to leave these uncoded (despite the fact that, given Goldsmith's extensive publishing activities, it does seem possible that Godwin signed up to do something for him. Two of the 1809 entries are to plain Goldsmith, but they follw the re-entry of L Goldsmith in the Diary, and they are similarly both at the theatre. These have been coded as L Goldsmith. In 1816, there are two entries where Godwin writes to Goldsmith. These are uncoded.In 1822 there is ''Goldsmiths' at the theatre with J Taylor, and this has been coded as L. Goldsmith. The two 1827 entries are a coach trip with Goldsmith, which seems unlikely to be L. And a play entry: 'Theatre, Goldsmith, adv. Skeffington.' This likely refers to the play or its author but will need double checking.

The theatre reference is to The Goldsmith a play by Louisa Holcroft.

• DNB

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.